Sport

Green strikes late to seal Sligo's win

Derry City 0 Sligo Rovers 1: SLIGO SUBSTITUTE Aaron Green stunned an attendance of almost 4,000 at the Brandywell last night…

Sat Mar 05 2011 - 00:00

Derry City 0 Sligo Rovers 1:SLIGO SUBSTITUTE Aaron Green stunned an attendance of almost 4,000 at the Brandywell last night, the former Bohemians player's 88th-minute goal breaking Derry City hearts.

And it was a double act as fellow substitute Raffaele Cretaro, who also joined from Bohemians, played a superb cross in behind the Derry back four before Green’s first-time shot flew high into the net.

New-look Derry were left to rue squandering a first-half penalty when Sligo goalkeeper Brendan Clarke denied Derry’s new hitman, Eamon Zayed, after 40 minutes after McGuinness was adjudged to have clipped Gareth McGlynn inside the area.

The visitors bossed possession in the first quarter yet failed to extend Derry goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.

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Indeed, the first clear-cut scoring chance fell to Derry in the 16th minute. A curling cross from the right by McGlynn saw Zayed direct his header straight at Sligo’s debutant goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

However, on the half-hour, from John Dillon’s free-kick, Jason McGuinness saw a header strike the underside of the Derry crossbar before it was whipped to safety. Three minutes later the visitors hit the woodwork again when a low shot from Danny Ventre crashed off the upright.

In the 35th minute, Derry went close when Zayed played McGlynn in but his shot flew across the face of goal and wide.

After the penalty let-off Sligo grew stronger in the early stages of the second half and Mathew Blinkhorn had a shot saved by the legs of Doherty in the 56th minute.

But back came Derry with Clarke pulling off a top-drawer save to deny Danny Lafferty in the 68th minute.

Derry substitute Davy McDaid went close to equalising near the end but his goalbound shot was blocked by a defender.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, S. McEleney, Lafferty; P. McEleney (Harkin, 84 mins), Molloy, Higgins (McCrudden, 89 mins), McLaughlin; McGlynn, Zayed (McDaid, 79 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness , Davoren; Dillon (Green, 58 mins), Ventre, Ryan, Doyle; Russell (Cretaro, 75 mins), Blinkhorn 6 (Kirby, 83 mins).

Referee: D Hancock(Dublin).